Lilac is one of the types of flowering shrubs that can be found in almost every household plot. In addition, the plant is planted in squares, parks, on the streets of cities and towns. To prolong the flowering period, proper care of lilacs will help. In spring and in the first half of summer, the plant will delight with unusually beautiful flowers and their delicate aroma.
Shrub Growth Conditions
There are certain favorable conditions for the growth and full development of the plant. Every grower who has decided to start growing lilacs should know about them.
Firstly, the bush is photophilous. In the shade, it will also grow, but under such conditions it will not be possible to achieve a lush flowering plant. However, it must be remembered that lilac also does not like hot midday rays.
Secondly, it is necessary to pay attention to the soil composition of the site where the bush is supposed to be planted. Lilac does not tolerate only heavy types of soils with an acid reaction and those areas where stagnant water accumulates.
Unpretentious to the conditions of existence facilitates the care of lilacs. In the spring, the grower needs to ensure that thawed and surface groundwater leaves the plot where the shrub grows as quickly as possible.
Planting lilacs
Due to the fact that the plant starts growing very early in the spring, it is recommended to plant it in the fall. The optimal time is September. Compliance with this condition will greatly simplify the care of lilacs in the spring.
However, planting lilacs in spring is also not excluded. It is only necessary to remember that this must be done before the sap flow begins. The earthen lump present on the roots of seedlings does not need to be removed. Its conservation will help the plant take root faster and transfer the transplant painlessly.
It is also possible propagation of lilac cuttings. The method is laborious, but quite effective. Most often it is used by specialists in landscaping large areas.
Shrub top dressing
There is a whole range of works that can be described as caring for lilacs in the spring. Fertilizing the bush is one of such events. If fertilizers were introduced during planting, then fertilizing is not required for the next several years of its life.
The pit for planting lilacs must be at least 70-80 cm wide, and its depth is about 60 cm. When planting, the pit must be filled with soil, mixing it with well-decomposed manure or compost. As organic fertilizer,
bone meal can be used - up to 2 kg per plant. Subsequent introduction of organics can be carried out only in the fourth year of shrub growth.
As a top dressing containing minerals, ash is used. In ten liters of water, 250 g of fertilizer is bred. The resulting mixture is introduced into the root system of the bush.
Pruning lilacs in spring
This type of shrub care, such as pruning, creates the conditions for abundant flowering of lilacs, helps to form a bush of the desired shape and size. All this is very important in decorative gardening.
Trimming lilacs in spring should be done before buds open. This type of shrub care is aimed at removing weak, dry, damaged shoots. In addition, branches are cut that thicken the bush. Old shoots worsen the appearance of the plant, so they must also be removed with a hacksaw or
clippers.Cutting will also help to create a spectacular crown of the bush. It should be carried out regularly and must be included in the package of works that ensure proper care of lilacs. In spring, pruning to form a crown is most acceptable. With proper work, by the fall, the lilac bush will have the shape and size the gardener needs.
Compliance with some rules will help even a beginner grower:
- after planting lilacs in the spring in a young shoot, you must immediately remove the first pair of buds;
- at the three-year bush, after trimming, there should be no more than ten of the strongest, well-located shoots, while the main one is necessarily shortened;
- the overgrowth that forms requires constant removal, otherwise the crown will thicken.
If you want to grow lilacs in the form of a tree, you need to leave only one main shoot, and at a height of about 80 cm on it - no more than six pairs of buds. The rest of the branch is removed by secateurs.
Pest and disease protection
High-quality care of lilacs in early spring involves measures to destroy harmful insects and prevent the development of plant diseases.
Pests in many horticultural crops can harm lilac bushes. The most common and dangerous are the moth, caterpillar of the shredder, mole of motley. To combat them, such means as a solution of Decis or Fufanon are considered effective. The mixture prepared according to the instructions is sprayed using a sprayer. If necessary, the procedure is repeated after about a week.
Bordeaux fluid is the most popular treatment for diseases that can affect lilacs. In the most severe cases, it is best to consult with specialists who may recommend other drugs.
Shrub care at other times of the year
Proper care of lilacs in the spring provides the cultivation of a beautiful healthy plant. But do not forget that the shrub requires attention to itself throughout the growing season. Loosening the soil under the bush, removing weeds and young shoots are the types of work that should be carried out from early spring to late autumn. During the period of active flowering, abundant watering of lilac bushes will be useful.
Following the simple recommendations listed in the article, you can grow lilacs, which will delight others not only in the spring during the flowering period, but also until the fall.